From Munich to the Nürburgring in an Audi R8 V10 RWS – powered from behind

What is it like to drive from Munich to the Nürburgring in a limited-edition Audi R8 V10 RWS?

“Can you let the engine roar a little louder for us? We’re sitting on the side of the road up ahead!” We’re stuck in a traffic jam in Nürburg. That’s actually annoying with a 540 hp car. Not along the Nürburgring. The fans of motorsport and fast vehicles are worth the wait! Since Monday last week, the hardliners, usually with a can of beer in their hands, have been camping out along the legendary race track and rejoicing at every loud car that passes by.

At the top of the popularity list is our Audi R8 V10 RWS Coupé. We drove from Munich to the famous ADAC 24-hour race in the Green Hell of the Eifel. Quite something when you consider that this model, which has been available since the beginning of the year, is only available in a limited edition of 999. The badge on the glove compartment, which draws the driver’s and co-driver’s attention to this exclusivity, is a little unnerving. And that’s not all: for the first time at Audi Sport, this rocket is available on four wheels with rear-wheel drive. Although it “only” has 540 hp – the R8 V10 Coupé Plus boasts 610 horsepower – it weighs 50 kilograms less and can reach 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds.

We step on the gas as we drive to our destination. The seats are comfortable and we have a wonderful view, despite the lowered body. The cars in front of us give way to us freely and willingly. Often during the journey, cell phones are twitched to catch a photo of our car. Those grinning faces in the cars – you get the feeling you’re doing something good. Unfortunately, it stops at 250 km/h – the engine is throttled. Oh yes, the engine. The heart of the V10 sits in the rear – protected by a visible window like a luxurious museum piece. It wants to be admired by the observer, only the key holder has access to it. Just like a museum director. If we stop at a service station, clusters of people with cell phones form around the car. The majority’s gaze usually lingers magically on the rear end, which has already been described by one or two viewers as sexy, like Kim Kardaschian.

An “Ahhh” or “Ohhh” can be heard when starting this good-looking and well-shaped specimen: The engine pulsates and roars, even in Comfort mode. It starts to shake in Dynamic Drive Select! As you speed along the road, you can feel the vibration that goes deep into your spinal cord. The pulse of the machine connects with your own heartbeat via the sporty steering wheel, driven by adrenaline and the resulting feeling of happiness. It’s as if fuel is flowing through your veins, while the rear-wheel drive suggests lift-off. When you stop and switch off the wild baby, you just sit there grinning. It takes time to leave the matrix again.

Only when the pulse calms down do we open the doors to get out. And then it happens: the pulse beats loudly twice, as you would hear at the end of any Audi advertisement. You freeze for a moment, followed by goose bumps spreading over your body. We find ourselves in another dimension, one that we like. Even getting out of the car triggers unforgettable emotions. Now that’s a performance.

It’s already dark. Exhausted, we pass the stern with the visible organ of life. Before the lights go out, it is illuminated like a superstar. It seems to wish us good night before it too disappears into the darkness. It lies there like a dragon, completely still. Only when you wake him up … What a wonderful fairy tale come true!